Spacing device eor display-trays



W. T. HORMES.

SPACING DEVICE FOR DISPLAY TRAYS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15. L915.

Patented Nov. 25,1919.

WILLIAM r. HORMES, or GOVANS, ivmnvnnnnnssrenoa r sotoivion HIMMEL, or

V BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. I I r FSIAGI'NG nnvrcn ron DISPLAY-TRAYS.

' Application filed May 1915. Serial No; 28,3(j37. 7

To all whom it may concern: V

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM T. HonMns, a citizen of the United States,residing at Govans, in the county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Spacing Devicesfor Display-Trays, o'f'which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improved device designed for use in connection with dlsplay trays, or other similar receptacles, wherein it is desirable or necessary to retain the articles on display, in spaced relation, to prevent rubbing, and to enhance the dlsplay thereof.

The main object of the invention is to provide an improved spacing device which willoccupy minimum space and'which may be readily attached to or detached from a su table supporting element carried by a display receptacle, and the positions of which may be readily shlfted to accommodate articles of different character, or articles of the same character but difiering in size.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims;

securing devices 12 passed through the ends of the strip. It will be noted that the body of the strip is spaced from the base of the tray, as indicated at 13, said strip being preferably made of resilient material.

The spacingdevice illustrated in Fig. 2, comprises an upstanding body portion 14, provided at itslower end w th spaced apart guide members 15, 16, forming a guide foot arranged at an angle to the loody, the guide member 16 being bent downwardly and back to form a resilient clip 17 which extends transversely of the foot beneath the guide member 15, a space 18 being provided be tween said clip and said guide member 15.

. Specification of Iietters Patent. Patented NQV, 25, 19151 f When it is desired'to employ the spacing device, the free end of the clip 17 is passed laterally beneath the guide strip until the space 19, between the'guide members, comes opposite said strip, whereupon the edges of the'guide members on opposite sides of said space, engage the longitudinal edges of the guide strip 11, preventing lateral movement of the spacing device with respect to said guide strip, but permitting longitudinal movement along said strip.' The clip 17 is sufficiently resilient to prevent accidental upward movement of the spacing device sufficient to disengage the guide members i from said strip, and strip 11 is sufliciently resilient to create considerable friction on the clip '17 between the strip and the base 10. -When it is desired to detach the spacing device, the body 14: is pulled upwardlya sufa lateral movement causing the strip to pass through the space between guide member 15.

In Fig. 3, the structure'illustrated is practhe clip 17 and tically the same as that illustrated in Fig. 2,

the clip 20 being formed by bending the guide member 16 laterally instead of longitudinally, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The two devices function in identically the same manner.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that I have produced a simple and effective spacing device which will not take up much room in a drawer or other container. The guide strip 11 and the spacing elements 14: are constructed of sheet metal or other thin and flat material to conserve the interior capacity of the container, the spacing elements having means to maintain the proper angular relation to the guide during adjustment, the guide and the spacing elements having cooperating means to prevent accidental displacement of the spacin r elements. 7

T-Iaving thus explained the nature of my invention and described an operative manner of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms of itsuse, or all of the forms in which it may bemade, what I claim is L. The combination with a tray having a bottom wall provided with a uniformly flat surface throughout its area, and a guide scf 1 allel Withthe guide strip and spaced to restrip attached to said flat surface; of a plurality of spacing .members slidably i mounted on. said fguide strip, each spacingmember consisting of an upright body-:po'r-r tlon provided Wlth spaced apart integral arms bent over from sald body portionparoeive. the guide strip between them, said spacing member also havingfintegralmeans for resiliently gripping said guide strip, andso shaped that it may; bylateralmovementv bei engaged: With and: disengaged from the guide strip at any point along the length,

- ralitgyi of! spacingmembers .slidably mounted;

consisting of alrupright body, portion: pr

ofvthe latter, saidf spacing members? being positioned'along, the guid'ef strip to separate .o

merchandise-placed. on both sides of the 7 body portionsthereofg. I 1

2. The combinationwith a trayhaving a bottom Wall provided with a uniformly flat surface throughout. its area 'and a guide; stniprattachedito said fiatsurfacaof a plu on) said. guide strip; each spacing member vided; with spaced apart integral arms-bentover fromsaidibody portion parallel with;

theaguide. strip and spaced to, receive the guide StIiB; between, them, one of said arms having; a turned overnesilientportion; positio'ne'd' to grip said" guide strip, said" spacing members belng positioned along the gu de strip to separate merchandise placed on both sid'esofithe-body portions thereof.

3. The combination with a tray having a bottom walhprovidedwith a uniformly fiat surface throughout its area, and a guide strip atta'ched to said fiat surface, ofia plurality. of spacing members slidably V mounted on said guide strip; each spacing. member consisting of an 'uprightlgbody portion;

provided with spaced} apart integral arms bent over froin said body portion, parallel withltheiguidestrip and'spaced to receive] V thereof.. a

In testimonyl' yhereofl haye hereunto [set 1 my. hand iupre'senoe of 'two' subscribing witnesses. r r

a 4 WILLIAMT. HOB-MES.

Witnesses: j i" 2;

E. A. CAMBBEITL,.J

n STEPHENO'AMBBE LQ 

